Author Topic: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review  (Read 12075 times)

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #50 on: January 26, 2012, 11:30:19 AM »
Could someone come to my office to help Sortatify the papers on it? ;D
Quote from: Notsototalnewbie
odd but pleasant.

PaulF

  • "World's Scariest Barman"
  • It's only impossible if you stop to think about it
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #51 on: January 26, 2012, 12:01:15 PM »
25 Jan 2012     23:24     Hub 3 - Birmingham     Your parcel has been received at our sortation hub

I reckon it should get here by midday Thursday  :D

Well?

:D

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #52 on: January 26, 2012, 12:26:43 PM »
Still in sortafication?

Frere

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #53 on: January 26, 2012, 01:30:00 PM »
25 Jan 2012     23:24     Hub 3 - Birmingham     Your parcel has been received at our sortation hub

I reckon it should get here by midday Thursday  :D

Well?

:D

Parcel No    Senders Ref    Consignment    Post Code    Collected Date    Service    Delivery Status
 1550 1883 183 761 I     128289     1883183761     BS26     25 Jan 2012     parcel - dpd next day     Your parcel is on the vehicle for delivery, due between 13:33 - 14:33

Eeps it's nearly here!  :D

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #54 on: January 26, 2012, 02:34:18 PM »
We all can feel the anticipation radiating out of Axbridge :)

Frere

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #55 on: January 26, 2012, 04:17:16 PM »
Well it came bang on time and I have been building it up. I am currently losing the will to live hacksawing through mudguard stays. I knew I should have asked for a giant set of bolt cutters for christmas!
On One rather unhelpfully put no instructions whatsoever in the box, which caused me a few moments of quiet contemplation since I've never had a bike with disc brakes or hub gears before. Having managed to get the back wheel in and connect everything I then realised it will have to come out again to get the rear mudguard fitted  :facepalm:

It is very lovely though  ;D

AndyH

  • Look what I found in the shed
    • Audax Addict
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #56 on: January 26, 2012, 06:26:41 PM »
I'm looking forwards to the pictures & report.
I am currently losing the will to live hacksawing through mudguard stays. I knew I should have asked for a giant set of bolt cutters for christmas!
4" angle grinder with some thin blades is what you want ;)
slackjaws, ne'erdowells and/or quitters.
That's me  :thumbsup:

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #57 on: January 26, 2012, 07:35:29 PM »
I'm looking forwards to the pictures & report.
I am currently losing the will to live hacksawing through mudguard stays. I knew I should have asked for a giant set of bolt cutters for christmas!
4" angle grinder with some thin blades is what you want ;)

I just bought myself some lovely bolt cutters, it cuts through them like cheese  ;D
I fitted the front guard then stopped to make dinner. I will continue the fettlage later!

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #58 on: January 26, 2012, 07:43:30 PM »
Here it is arriving


Being unpacked


And built, before mudguards and rack  :thumbsup:

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #59 on: January 26, 2012, 09:07:46 PM »
That looks right :thumbsup:
Quote from: Notsototalnewbie
odd but pleasant.

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #60 on: January 26, 2012, 09:19:48 PM »
Interesting that the handlebars weren't fitted.  With Red I guess it needed a very big box, because it is an XL frame, and hence had space for the handlebars to remain fitted.  I had to put the wheels in, but that was no harder than when you get a puncture.
Actually, it is rocket science.
 

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #61 on: January 26, 2012, 09:24:16 PM »
Looks good!

Guess by taking the bars out rather than turning them, they can ship it with the Aheadset all adjusted properly. When I've had to pack a bike in a box, I prefer to leave the stem as is and take the bars out.

What bars are those, Feline?

Enjoy the bike  ;D

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #62 on: January 26, 2012, 09:34:57 PM »
Feline - that looks lovely. I've got N+1 urges now... Just as well I've got a mtb to build first or I'd be spending more money!

AndyH

  • Look what I found in the shed
    • Audax Addict
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #63 on: January 26, 2012, 09:45:33 PM »
I can see this will deserve a thread of it's own. I'm jealous.
slackjaws, ne'erdowells and/or quitters.
That's me  :thumbsup:

PaulF

  • "World's Scariest Barman"
  • It's only impossible if you stop to think about it
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #64 on: January 27, 2012, 06:44:12 AM »
Well it came bang on time and I have been building it up. I am currently losing the will to live hacksawing through mudguard stays. I knew I should have asked for a giant set of bolt cutters for christmas!
On One rather unhelpfully put no instructions whatsoever in the box, which caused me a few moments of quiet contemplation since I've never had a bike with disc brakes or hub gears before. Having managed to get the back wheel in and connect everything I then realised it will have to come out again to get the rear mudguard fitted  :facepalm:

It is very lovely though  ;D

Based on my Alfine 8sp experience hub gears are just 'click and pedal' mine shift ok under (moderate) load and when stationary.  Just remember to have a 15mm spanner in your saddlebag so you don't find yourself miles from home with no means of removing the wheel. Don't ask me how I know that. "the what tools for a fixie?" thread has a link to a nice spanner that fits easily into a bag.

Discs should be easy to maintain. Assuming they've been set up by On-One then you should be good to go  Do a few hard stops to bed in the pad and that's it! If you need to adjust the pad turn the dial on the outside of the caliper a click or two  I've got a document on adjusting them if you want a copy

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #65 on: January 27, 2012, 08:38:03 AM »


Just remember to have a 15mm spanner in your saddlebag so you don't find yourself miles from home with no means of removing the wheel. Don't ask me how I know that. "the what tools for a fixie?" thread has a link to a nice spanner that fits easily into a bag.


Of course, if you have a Pilen with brakes also in the can, you actually need TWO 15 mm spanners, which is just as unhelpful when you have a multitool with only one on it...I'm sure you don't need to ask how I discovered this either   :facepalm:



Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #66 on: January 27, 2012, 08:52:05 AM »


Just remember to have a 15mm spanner in your saddlebag so you don't find yourself miles from home with no means of removing the wheel. Don't ask me how I know that. "the what tools for a fixie?" thread has a link to a nice spanner that fits easily into a bag.


Of course, if you have a Pilen with brakes also in the can, you actually need TWO 15 mm spanners, which is just as unhelpful when you have a multitool with only one on it...I'm sure you don't need to ask how I discovered this either   :facepalm:

But it is just about possible to repair 5 punctures at once on a Pompetamine without removing the wheel, DNAMHIKT either.

Oh, and two things: Don't assume the BB7s will be set up properly, mine were not. The two important evaluations for the BB7 are (1) does it spin freely without the brake on and (2) does it stop when you want. Might sound obvious, but the intial fettle will teach you a lot about them. You will find two things (1) That caliper bolt on the rear is not easy to get to at all, but is important (2) Each time you adjust the rear wheel, you alter the caliper adjustment. Not sure whether you need to but I adjust at the same time each time. The caliper/pad centering thing to start with is the key to getting a perfect system. The cable system has quite a bit of stretch in it, but you will get good braking force if it is adjusted correctly, there is a risk that you can leave the adjustment too slack, the lever then fouls the bar and you can have a brown trouser moment. DNAMHIKT either.

GlasgowDave

  • Inside I'm smiling
    • Flickr Audax Group
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #67 on: January 27, 2012, 02:43:31 PM »
Mine is in the back of the car, after being delivered to work by the couriers.

Looking forward to checking it over this evening, and getting out on it at the weekend.

May post pics of the glowing white, if I remember.

Dave
it takes a special talent to miss out on the Midnight Madness by sleeping in...

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #68 on: January 27, 2012, 06:36:01 PM »
*verrrry jealous*

But happy for you :)
Quote from: Notsototalnewbie
odd but pleasant.

GlasgowDave

  • Inside I'm smiling
    • Flickr Audax Group
Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #69 on: January 27, 2012, 06:44:22 PM »
Aaaaargh! There's no way mudguards will fit with those tyres...

Time for a quick change of tyres to 25mm.

Dave
it takes a special talent to miss out on the Midnight Madness by sleeping in...

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #70 on: January 27, 2012, 07:33:33 PM »
28s have plenty of room, I created a post out of a bolt to stand off the front guard to get around the caliper.

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #71 on: January 27, 2012, 10:43:24 PM »
I've fitted mine with SKS guards with my 35mm tyres, required a bit of a bodge to get clearance on the front disc brake mech which is right where the mudguard stay wound go normally.
Haven't had chance to test ride it yet sadly because I literally have a house full of visitors this weekend. Simon and I might escape for a bit in the morning to ride to SJS in Bridgwater to buy a few bits (I need a new Brooks for this bike and a pump, and he wants a new fixie chain).
I will post some pics of the finished bike with guards and rack in the morning  ;D

PH

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #72 on: January 27, 2012, 11:59:15 PM »
Great looking bike Feline, now I want something black and with an Alfine.  Looking forward to the photos with guards, please include one of the bodge required to fit round the brake.  How much of a bodge was it?
Simon and I might escape for a bit in the morning to ride to SJS in Bridgwater to buy a few bits (I need a new Brooks for this bike and a pump, and he wants a new fixie chain).
I will post some pics of the finished bike with guards and rack in the morning  ;D

Enjoy the ride, but I think you'll find SJS are not open Saturdays.

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #73 on: January 28, 2012, 12:57:30 AM »
the couple of front mudguards I've fitted to disc brake forks I've just cut off one of the stays on the disc brake side. A tip I received from Rimas I believe...they've been perfectly solid with 3 stays and saves any bending contortions.
Nuns, no sense of humour

Re: Alfine 11 speed with Versa 11 levers: a review
« Reply #74 on: January 28, 2012, 05:57:46 PM »
Here it is fully set up with 45mm SKS guards and a Topeak disc friendly rack:


Front mudguard bodge, I couldn't use the mudguard lug because of the disc mech so I replaced the upper mech bolt with a longer one and added some washers to get the guard stay to clear it all by a decent margin. It means the stays on the disc side of the wheel are shorter but the guard is nice and secure and straight and I don't think I've compromised the disc brake function in any way by doing this.